Gunners’ board will turn to record goal-scorer if his mentor Wenger is dismissed.
Arsenal could appoint Thierry Henry as interim manager if Arsene Wenger is sacked, it has emerged.
The Gunners’ majority shareholder Alisher Usmanov met with Henry this week and has sounded out the New York Red Bulls striker about assisting Wenger at the club.
“Henry should already be a member of the club, but not as a player,” Usmanov told L’Equipe.
“He’s got another, more important role to play.”
Henry is due to join the club for a third successive spell in January, on a short-term loan deal from MLS club New York Red Bulls.
But Usmanov and other members of the club’s board want the 35-year-old to return to North London permanently in a coaching capacity.
And, if Wenger is sacked, the Gunners will turn to Henry as interim boss, believing he has the passion and the experience to inspire the club’s insipid superstars.
Wenger has been in charge in North London since 1996 but is under increasing pressure, with his side 15 points off the pace in the Premier League this term following seven trophy-less seasons.
It has also been reportedly that key members of the dressing room, including new signings Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski have lost faith in the Frenchman’s methods.
The situation came to a head on Tuesday when Arsenal were dumped out of the League Cup by League Two Bradford, despite Wenger fielding a strong team at Valley Parade.
In July, Usmanov sent an open letter to the club’s board cristicising Arsenal’s lack of ambition and financial model but praising Wenger.
But it is now understood the Soviet businessman and others on the board are running out of patience with Wenger.
The former Monaco boss will be given money to spend in January but if he cannot turn the club’s fortunes around, he will be sacked – with Henry a leading candidate to replace his mentor.
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